Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

“The vale of Olchon is difficult of access, and there the first Welsh dissidents
found the most ready converts, who sheltered themselves in the rocks and
dens. The Darren Ddu, or Black Rock, is a terribly steep and rough place, in
which the Baptists took refuge, rich and poor, young and old, huddled
together.” f850
Davis’ History of Welsh Baptists is an abridged translation of Thomas’ History
of Welsh Baptists, of which Mr. Davis says: “We have collected all we deem
necessary from every other author on the subject” and added it to it; and
Armitage says: “Thomas is, perhaps, the most reliable authority on the
subject.” f851
Davis says:
“About fifty years before the birth of our Savior the Romans invaded the
British Isle, in the reign of the Welsh king, Cassibellan; but having failed, in
consequence of other and more important wars, to conquer the Welsh nation,
made peace and dwelt among them. many years. During that period many of
the Welsh soldiers joined the Roman army and many families from Wales
visited Rome, among whom there was a certain woman named Claudia, who
was married to a man named Pudence. At the same time Paul was sent a
prisoner to Rome and preached there in his own hired house for the space of
two years, about the year of our Lord 63. Pudence and Claudia, his wife, who
belonged to Caesar’s household, under the blessing of God on Paul’s
preaching, were brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, and
made a profession of the christian religion. Acts 28:30; 2 Timothy
4:21. These, together with other Welshmen, among the Roman soldiers, who
had tasted that the Lord was gracious, exhorted them in behalf of their
countrymen in Wales, who were at that time vile idolators. … The Welsh lady
Claudia, and others, who were converted under Paul’s ministry in Rome,
carried the precious seed with them, and scattered it on the hills and valleys of
Wales; and since that time, many thousands have reaped a glorious harvest.
… We have nothing of importance to communicate respecting the Welsh
Baptists from this period to the year 180 when two ministers by the name of
Faganus, and Damicanus, who were born in Wales, but were born again in
Rome, and became eminent ministers of the gospel, were sent from Rome to
assist their brethren in Wales. In the same year, Lucius, the Welsh king, and
the first king in the world who embraced the christian religion, was baptized.
… About the year 300, the Welsh Baptists suffered most terrible and bloody
persecution, which was the tenth persecution under the reign of Dioclesian. …
Here, as well as in many other places, the blood of martyrs proved to be the
seed of the church.” f853
Of A.D. 600, Davis says:
“Infant baptism was in vogue long before this time in many parts of the world,
But not in Brittain. The ordinances of the gospel were then exclusively
administered there according to the primitive mode. Baptism by immersion,